As the winter holiday season approaches, airline ticket prices on several routes have surged, sparking debates online. Congress spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohamed recently reignited the discussion by highlighting exorbitant fares for a direct Delhi-Kannur flight.
In a post on X, she shared a screenshot showing flight prices for December 21, with fares ranging from ₹21,966 to ₹22,701. Dr. Mohamed criticized the steep prices, stating, “It is cheaper to go to Dubai! This is what monopoly does.”
Ticket pricing of @indigo from Delhi to kannur on the 21st. The direct flight costs 22,000! It is cheaper to go to Dubai! This is what monopoly does pic.twitter.com/BhPzrrHFNM
— Dr. Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) December 15, 2024
@IndiGo6E @DGCAIndia @RamMNK @PMOIndia @CCI_India Why is there no cap on what an airline can charge? How is this reasonable? If only one airline is flying a certain route, it is a monopoly. Allowing them to exploit passengers is anti-consumer, anti-competition and unfair.…
— Adv. Jaimman Sodeshi (@JSodeshi) December 17, 2024
Pros and Cons of Free Markets.
Maybe the algos for pricing need to be audited.
Even though aviation is a tough business we need many more airline companies for the competition and rates.— Soumendu Mukherji (@SoumenduM) December 16, 2024
Her post garnered significant attention, sparking outrage among social media users. Many labeled the pricing “anti-consumer” and attributed it to a monopoly. A user asked, “Why is there no cap on what an airline can charge? Allowing them to exploit passengers is anti-consumer, anti-competition, and unfair.”
Madam, the late you book you will pay premium pricing. You are thinking a week before holiday season it will be normal as usual 😅🤣. Ticket pricing globally works like that
— Intheworks (@intheworks99) December 16, 2024
Others argued that holiday-season fare hikes are a global trend. One commenter noted, “The later you book, the more you pay. Ticket pricing globally works like that.” Another user suggested planning travel well in advance to avoid paying premiums, adding, “Nothing to do with monopoly. If you want last-minute convenience during peak season, be ready to pay for it.”
Dr. Mohamed’s post has garnered over 800,000 views since December 15, highlighting widespread concern over high airfares during the festive season.
